Purdue's DJ Byrd accepts terms to avoid alcohol charge

DJ Byrd

Purdue University basketball standout David Jonathan "DJ" Byrd could have a public intoxication charge against him dropped, so long as he stays out of a trouble for a year.

Byrd's attorney, Ed Kennedy, confirmed this afternoon that Byrd signed a diversion agreement with the Tippecanoe County prosecutor's office. The agreement was filed on Tuesday in Tippecanoe Superior Court 4.

Under it, the 21-year-old Crawfordsville native will have to complete 20 hours of community service, Kennedy said.

Other conditions include not consuming alcoholic beverages, not using controlled substances and not possessing controlled substances for a year; not going to any bars, taverns or liquor stores during that same time frame; paying a $269 diversion program fee; and agreeing to random alcohol and drug screens as requested by police or prosecutors.

Diversion agreements are common in Tippecanoe County for first-time offenders who commit misdemeanor crimes - for instance, students arrested for public intoxication during Purdue's annual Grand Prix race weekend.

Byrd was charged with public intoxication last month following a Feb. 17 altercation outside Where Else Bar, 304 W. State St., during which he allegedly bit a bouncer.

An Indiana State Police trooper drove by as Byrd was walking away from the West Lafayette Village business. A portable breath alcohol tester showed that he had a breath-alcohol content of 0.219 percent at the scene.

Byrd was not charged on allegations that he bit the bouncer because the bouncer did not want to pursue charges, Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington previously told the Journal & Courier.